Sheet-delivery mechanism.



R. MIEHLE. I SHEET DELEVERY MECHANISM. APPLICATION PILEDYMAY 19, 1913.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY R. \MEHLE. SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM. APPLICATION IILED MAY 19, 1913.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET. 2.

l/VVE/V 70/; (Rab/db mum.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

dam 9% I mower.

ROBERT MIEHLE, or PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, Assrsnoa TO con'riiinnran & comma our. 'rnusr & savmes BANK, 'rnusran, or ontcaeo, rumors.

SHEET-DELIVERY ECHANISM,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'ROBERTMIEHLE, citi- I Zen' of the United, States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Marshall and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Delivery Mechanism, of which the following is I a full, clear, concise,-and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying decreased when the sheet is to be discharged therefrom, the sheet supporting surface of the belt element moving in one level to receive the sheet' to be supported and ina lower level there to discharge the support- 1 ed sheet. Arbight or loop forming device preferably in the form of a roller takes part in bringing the sheetsu'ppor'ting surface of the belt element from its receiving to its discharging level; This bight or loop forming roller has planetary motion through substantially 180 when it takes part 1n shifting the sheet supporting surface of the belt element from the upper to the lower "level.

- Hitherto such bodily planetary motion of the bight forming roller was efiected about a substantially fixed axis and along a substantially fixed semicircular path portion, it being bodily lowered a distance equal to-th e diameter of such semicircular path. Such lowering movement of the roller while following its downward semicircular path hitherto occurred rapidly and when the carried sheet projected outwardly beyond the roller. The sheet wo'uld'thus move downwardly with the. roller, maintaining sufiia reference to the Specification of. Letters Eateut. v

According to one feature of my inventipn the semicircular path followed by the bight forming roller and the axis of such path,.

which were both hitherto fixed, are together elevated sufficiently to prevent such a descent of the roller while moving in its semicircular path as would subject the projected sheet to undue buoying action, In the preferred embodiment of the invention said roller is not permitted to descend at all, when moving from the upper to the lower limit of said semicircular path, this path being shifted upwardly the full distancr through which the roller hitherto moved downwardly, the upward movementof the path gradually proceedin as the roller movestoward the, lower en of the path so Patented Au is, 1191141. Application filed ma 19,1913, Serial No. vsaeoa. l

that no descent of the roller occurs at any ti'me while the rollerfollows this path portion'. The. invention," however, is not to be,

limited to a construction in which the roller is prevented from beingbodily lowered at all while moving upon its semicircular path.

After the roller has been brought to the.

invention the speed ofthe'endless carrier is decreased when the roller passes on its curved or semicircular path whereby the speed of the roller'about its own axis and about the axis of its (isemicircular "path may be sufliciently reduce to maintain desirable relative speed between the roller and the belt element upon which it operates properly to check the carried sheet preparatory to its deposit, suchspeed being increased after the roller has cleared said semicircular path. I will explain my invention more fully by accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a printing press and the equipment of my invention shown in conjunction therewith; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the strucknown as not to require description. sheets are transferred from the tapes 2 to the sheet carrier of my invention over a- 'ture as it appears in Fig, 1 {Fig 3 is a sec.-

tional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 6; Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of arrows 4 of Fig.- 2'; Fig. 5 is a. view showing most of the parts illustrated in Fig. 4, certain of the parts being in different relationship; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 except that the parts are shown in still another relationship.

Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughout the different.

guide finger structure 3.

As my invention is specifically embodied in the structure shown by. .the drawings there is present a sprocket chain 4 driven by thegearing 5 and .in turn driving a sprocket 6 in novel driving relation, to be hereinafter described, with a spur gear? in mesh with a spur gear 8 upon whose shaft sprocket wheels 9, one upon each side of the sheet carrier, are mounted. An endless sprocket chain 101is disposed upon'each side of the sheet carrier structure, these chains being driven by the sprocket wheels? and in turn passing over idler sprocketfwheels 1 1, the wheels 9 and 11 generally defining the. orbits in which thechains substan tially move. I

The chains 10 constitute endless belts and carry bight or loop engaging andforming elements 12 which are desirably, though not necessarily, in the form of rollers rotatably mounted upon and with respect to the chains 10 at points thereon whichdivide the chains into two equal parts.- v Additional bight forming elements are employed which are preferably in the form of loose pulleys 13 co-axial with sprocket wheels 9. I employ a conveyer'belt element for finally delivering the sheets, which element is preferably in the form of endless tapes 14 that are engaged by the rollers 12 and the pulleys or rollers 13. The organization also includes conveyer belt holding or gripping devices 15 and 16 (each tape of the belt structure being associated with two such elements 15 and 16) which are preferably mounted upon a yoke 17 free to rotate, due to the action of the tapes thereupon, about the axis of the sprocket wheels 9 and pulleys 13. As shown in Figs 4, 5 and def the drawings, the sprocket wheel 9 moves in a clockwise direction so asto cause the chains 10 to travel substantially in'a,uni-\ form direction as indicated "by the arrows wherebyvthe rollers 12 are caused to travel substantially'in a uniform direction in the orbit of the chains 10. V

Describing the operation as it commences withthe parts as illustratedin Fig: 4, the left hand roller 12 will rise and the right hand roller '12 willdescend as the chains '10 move them from the positions shown, in Fig.4 whereby the upper sides of the tapes 14 will engage the elements 15 then upper most, re1ative -'motion between the elements 15 and the upper sides of the tapesi being i prevented byit he friction between said elemer ts and; tapes. During the initial 1 portion of themovement oftheleft hand roller it willswing the elements 15 and the yoke 17 carrying the same to permit the gradual formatioaof a bight at 15, in the upper side of each of the conveyer tapes (Figs-6 and 5),; flihe bight fdiiningf elements 15, during-'zpnehalffof their revolutions, preparef to, form suchlbights, form'them, and release the tapes i to' permit the bights they have formed to disappear .whereupon the 1 bight forming; elements l6 enter ..upo n' a similar cycle, The cycle of 'operationsof each set of elements 15 and 16 occurs during the travel of the chain structure 10 through onehalf of its cycle. When the rollers 12 are at the ends of-the closed path afforded by the chains 10 but two bights are formed in each. tape 14. As the chains 10 travel to bring the left hand roller 12 above the level of the right hand roller-12, the process of forming four bights in each tape 14 is commenced, Fig. 5 illustrating one position of the tapes 14 in which such four bights are formed, the elements12, 12,-and 15 forming three of the bights and a pulley 13 now forming the fourth bight. 'When the chain element 10 has traveled through a half of its cycle, it interchangesthe positions of the rollers 12 and again limits the tapes 14 to -the presence of but two .bights in each. During the second half of the cycleof travel of the chain element'lO, the bight forming operation is repeated with similar results excepting that the bight forming element 15 will be replaced by the bight forming element 16 in a bight forming function. The tapes should be made of elastic material or should include such material in its formation to maintain the same sufiiciently taut properly to support the sheet to be carried. The rollers 12 have rolling contact with the upper side of the frame pieces 18 to prevent them from. causing the chains 10 to sag. The frame pieces 18 also operate to engage the rollers, where such engagement is desirable,'to turnthe rollers inde- 'pendently ofthe tapes and thereby elimimoms? cular portion of their path which is defined I by the sprocket wheels 11, the cam tracks being horizontally extended at their upper ends so as to maintain engagementwith the .rollers 19 that are moving upon such semicircular path, and as the cam tracks 20 do not prevent the movement of such rollers 19 upon their path but do prevent the descent of such rollers, the sprocket wheels 11 must be elevated, their elevation gradually proceeding as the rollers 12 and 19 move along the semicircular path .portion defined by the sprocket wheels 11 so that the conveyed sheet 21 will not be lowered, or'sufliciently lowered, as the rollers 12 are movingalong their semicircular path portion, to be unduly subjected to the buoying action of the air beneath the same. When the rollers 12 and 19 reach the lower limit of their bodily shifted semicircular path portion they enter upon the inclined portion of the cam tracks 20 which are of such gradual slope as to permit the rollers 19 to be so slowly lowered as to prevent improper buoying action of the air upon the sheet 21, the inclined portions of the cam tracks .20 being suitably calculated for this' purpose. Studs 22 project laterally from the frame pieces 18 and are adapted to engage (at fixed places). the ii clined portions of the cam tracks 20 to support the frame pieces 18 in proper relation to the receiving board or table 23 when the rollers 19 do not have such engagement with the cam tracks 20 as properly to perform this function. The planes of movement of the frame pieces 18, which are thus seen to be mounted to swing about the axis of the rollers 13, with respect to the cam tracks 20 are defined by the pin and slot connections efi'ected at 24 between the ,frame pieces 18 and wall portions 25 projecting vertically from the cam tracks 20.

As my invention is preferably practised 1 the lineal speed of. the chain element 10 is highest where the rollers 12 are approximately in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, I

such speed decreasing 'to the lowest value where the rollers 12 are at the extreme ends of the chains 10 whereby the. peripheral speed of each roller 12 as it rounds each semicircular portion of its path is reduced. By this means the speed of the endless sheet conveying belt elementis' properly increased after the sheet enters upon thebelt element and when the sheet is on the point of leaving the belt element,'the speed being gradually decreased ,as the belt element is approaching the point Where the sheet is to leave the same so that the bodily travel of the sheet is checked, and slowly checked, preparatory to its deposit. This acceleration and retardation in the travel of the chains 10 is preferably accomplished by the mechanism illustrated mostv clearly in Figs.

1, 4: and 5. The axes of rotation of the gear elements 6 and 7 are offset, the wheel 7 being rotated through the agency of a. crank 26 carried by the wheel 6, this crank having mounted thereupon a block 27 that is adapted to travel back and forth in the radial slot 28 in the gear 7. These parts are so relatively ,positioned that the speed is highest when the rollers 12 are approxin'lately in the position illustrated in Fig. 5,

such speedincreasing .as the rollers approach this position and decreasing as they leave the same for the purposes which have been set forth.

The printed paper sheet receiving table access to the inking mechanism 29 the sheet delivery mechanism and the sheet receiving table are adapted to be elevated at their outer ends, the sheet delivery mechanism being mounted to swing about the axis of the pulleys 13 while the table is mounted to swing about the shaft 30. Unitary mechanism is provided for eilecting simultan eous movement of the sheet delivery mechanism and the table away from the inking mechanism, this unitary mechanism includ ing a rack bar 31 having suitable connection with both table and sheet delivery and a pinion 32 operable by a crank 33 for elevating and lowering the rack to secure the simultaneous adjustment of the sheet delivery and table, the desired adjustment being maintained by a'holding pawl 34. If relative adjustment between the sheet delivery and table is desired a pinion 35, operable ,by a crank 36, may be turned to move thef rack 31 upwardly and downwardly with rejspect to the table, the desired adjustment .being maintained by a holding pawl 37.

Reference may be had to my co-pending application Serial No. 710,933, filed July While ll have herein shown and particularly .described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may be readily be made without geparting from the spirit of the invention,

Having thus described my invention I" claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the lifting the carrier upon the initiation of the transfer then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoying action of the air. I v 2. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level thereto receive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level there to discharge the sheet, said means including an endless carrier engaging said sheet supporting surface of the belt element and operating to initiate the transfer of the same from the upper to the lower level when the belt engaging port-ion of the carrier.

turns from the upper to the lower portion of its path; and means for lifting the can rier where it engages the sheet supporting surface of the belt element upon the initia tion of the transfer then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoying action of the air. a 3. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to besupported and in a lower level there to discharge the sheet, said means including an endless carrier and a bight forn'ling element supported by the carrier and engaging said sheet supporting surface of the belt element and operating to initiate the transfer of the same from the upper to the lower level when the bight forming element turns from the upper to the lower portion of its path; and means for lifting the car- .rier as the bight forming element moves from the upper to the lower portion of its path to prevent the carried sheet from being f unduly subject to the buoying-action of the ail. n

4. A sheet carrier includinga sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the 1 sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level path portion then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoying action of the air.

supporting surface of the belt element from the upper to the lower level; means for lifting the carrier upon the initiation of the transfer then to prevent the carried sheet from being sunduly subject to the buoying action of'the air; and means forlowering the carrier after the discharge \of the car-ried sheet has been initiated.

6. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface 'of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to. be supported and in a lower level there -to discharge the sheet, said means including an endless carrier engagi said sheet supporting surface of the belt e ement and operating to initiate the transfer of the same from the upper to the lower level when the belt engaging portion of the carrier turns from the upper'to the lower portion of itsengages the sheet supporting siirface of the belt element upon the initiation of the trans-.. fer then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoying action of the air;'and means for lowering the carrier after the discharge of the carried sheet has been initiated. 7 A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level there to discharge the sheet, said means including an endless carrier and a bight forming element supported by the carrler and engaging said sheet supporting surface of the belt element and operating to initiate the transfer of the same from the upper to the lower level when the bight forming element turns from the upper to the lower portion of its path; means for lifting the carrier as the bight forming element-moves from the upper to the lower portion of its path to revent the carried sheet from being undu y subject to the buoying action of the air; and means for lowering the carrier after the discharge of thecarried sheet has been initiated. 8. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing-the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level thereto discharge the sheet, said means including a bight forming element engaging said sheet supporting surface of said belt element, and means for causing said bight forming element to move in upper andlower adjacent portions of a path; means for obstructing the descent of the bight forming element as it leavesits upper path portion then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoyingaction of the air; and means for lowering the bight form ing clement after the discharge of the carried sheet has been initiated.

9. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level 15' there to discharge the sheet, said'means including an endless carrier and a bight forming element supported by the carrier and engaging said sheet supporting surface of the belt element and operating to initiate the transfer of the same from the upper to the lower level when the bight forming element turns from the upper to the lower portion of its path; means for lifting the carrier as the bight forming element moves from the. upper to the lower portion of its path to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoying action of the air; and a cam track engaged by the bight forming element after such bight forming element has reached the lower portion of its path and operating to permit the bight form ing element to be lowered.

10. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to re; ceive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level there to discharge the sheet, said means including a bight forming element engaging said sheet supporting surface of said belt element and means for causing said bight forming element to move in upper and lower adjacent 'portions of a path; means for obstructing the descent of the bight forming element as it leaves its upper path portion then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoyi'n action of the air and a cam track engaged by the bight forming elementafter such bight formin element has reached the lower portion of its path and operating to permit the bightforming element to be lowered.

11. A sheet carrier including a sheet 0011- y to a place of deposit; a bight forming ele- -ment over which the belt element passes at the place where the sheet to be conveyed enters upon the belt element; a second bight forming element over which the belt element passes at the place where the departure of the conveyed sheet from the belt element is initiated; and means for causing the belt element to travel at a variable speed which decreases as the conveyed sheet approaches the place of its departure from the belt element.

12. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the belt element to move in one level there to receive the sheet to be supported and in a lower level there to discharge the sheet, said means including a carrier for transferring said sheet supporting surface of the belt element from the upper to the lower level; and means for lifting the carrier upon the initiation of the transfer then to prevent the carried sheet from being unduly subject to the buoying action of the air and for thereafter lowering the carrier.

'13. Sheet delivery apparatus includin a sheet receiving table; sheet delivery mec anism in discharging relation to the table; mechanism for effecting simultaneous up and down adjustments of the said table and the portion of the sheet delivery mechanism in discharging relation thereto'; and mechanism for effecting adjustment of the spacing between the said table and the portion of the sheet delivery mechanism in discharging relation thereto.

14. Sheet delivery apparatus including a sheet receiving table; sheet delivery mecha- ,nism in discharging relation to the table; mechanism for effecting simultaneous up and down adjustments of the said table and the portion of the sheet delivery mechanism in discharging relation thereto; and mechanism for efiecting adjustment of the spacing between the said table and the portion of the sheet delivery mechanism in discharging relation. thereto, "said adjusting mechanisms having a common element.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of May, A. D. 1913.

f ROBERT MIEHLE'. Witnesses:

ALFRED GRATER,

veying belt element for transferringsheets OTTO LONG. 

